Google is reportedly on the brink of adding premium content to YouTube.

The Financial Times claims that the web giant is planning to offer additional channels for a monthly fee as soon as this week.

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The report states that Google will offer around 50 specialist channels with subscription packages starting at $1.99 (£1.28) a month.

A YouTube spokesperson told the newspaper that it is "looking into creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great content to YouTube for our users to enjoy and provide our creators with another vehicle to generate from their content, beyond the rental and ad-supported models we offer".

It is thought that the move will pave the way for for channel owners to offer more TV and movie content, although YouTube already operates a pay-per-view film streaming service.